ZITF lighter moments

03 May, 2015 - 07:05 0 Views
ZITF lighter moments President Mugabe and the Zambian President Edgar Lungu (left) are shown products from Choppies supermarkets by its business director Mr Siqokoqela Mphoko (right) at the retail chain’s stand during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Thursday

The Sunday News

President Mugabe likes mazondo, boxing: Exhibitors

President  Mugabe and the Zambian President  Edgar Lungu (left) are shown products from Choppies supermarkets by its business director Mr Siqokoqela Mphoko (right) at the retail chain’s stand during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Thursday

President Mugabe and the Zambian President Edgar Lungu (left) are shown products from Choppies supermarkets by its business director Mr Siqokoqela Mphoko (right) at the retail chain’s stand during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Thursday

THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair has come and gone but to many this event is mostly associated with how companies can network and explore business opportunities to ensure that they can add another dollar or cent into their account.
Its name aptly captures what basically is the main purpose of the event.

One of the major highlights of the five-day event is the official opening where the patron President Mugabe either opens the event or accompanies the invited guest to do the honours.

The tradition is that before officially opening the show, the President (and his guest) tours some of the stands in the halls and pavilions to have a feel of the exhibitions.

During the tour he interacts with the exhibitors sharing information — some serious and in some cases cracking jokes.

In the process some of the exhibitors also show their appreciation for the presidential visit by showering the President(s) with gifts.

However, because of the space and sometimes the security which normally come with such events, it is sometimes difficult for journalists to catch the sound bites from what will be discussed when the President (s) is touring the stands.

Sunday Business however managed to interact with some of the officials from stands where President Mugabe and his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu toured before the latter officially opened this year’s ZITF on Thursday.

What came out is that although this is generally seen in many eyes as a trading event and maybe that such important people will only discuss business when they pass through the stands, it also emerged that such moments bring out the other traits of these important people.

Mrs Jacqueline Munodeyi, the administration manager of Meprin Founders and Engineers said she was thrilled that the Presidents passed through her stand but more importantly she was left dumbfounded when the President asked her about mazondo.

“When President Mugabe saw one of these cast iron pots, he asked if they could cook mazondo well. He said he likes mazondo,” she said with a smile reflecting a mixture of the happiness and amazement on the question.

“I also told him that I was a MaNgwenya so I was a Gushungo! He was happy seeing our products.”
The Bulawayo based company manufactures a range of domestic, agriculture, mining and fire products.

Mr Muhammad Iqbal Butt, a partner for Arzoo International, a Pakistan-based company said he was surprised when President Mugabe told him that he liked boxing.

“We manufacture and export sports goods, sports wear and work wear. When they got here we showed them some of the products which are on display. Your President then asked why we did not have equipment for boxing. He said he likes the sport and many other young people in the country liked the sport so he wanted to know why we had not brought boxing equipment,” said Mr Butt.

He said he was happy with the ZITF and the visit by the two heads of state showed that this was a serious event.
However, it was not all light moments at the stands the two heads of state visited.

At the Namibian Ministry of Industrilisation, Trade and SMEs Development stand President Mugabe was told that construction of Zimbabwe’s dry port was under way and would be ready for use in five months.

Namport marketing and Strategic Business Development public relations assistant Mr Cliff Shikuambi said he briefed President Mugabe on the progress of the dry port.

“We were happy to tell him that Zimbabwean companies can now use their dry port for imports and exports through Namibia. The port will be ready in the next five months.”

In 2009 Namibia offered its landlocked fellow African countries Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia land at Walvis Bay to build their own ports as a way of facilitating access to the sea and boost trade.

Zimbabwe was given 19 000 square metres to set up the dry port.
The Zambian facility is already operating while the other countries are still building.

Namibia has become one of the most strategic routes for landlocked countries to access the seas.
Trade for Zimbabwe through the port of Walvis Bay has grown significantly to 2 500 tonnes of cargo per month, according to Government. The port has seen tremendous growth over the years.  In 1994 it was mainly a fishing port handling about 20 000 containers per annum. This figure has grown to about 350 000 containers per annum and is expected to reach one million containers per annum with the expansion projects under way.

The two presidents also visited the Zambian stand where President Mugabe was shown some of the products produced by the northern neighbour.

“We basically showed President Mugabe some of the products we are producing. We are showing products from eight companies here. Most of the talking was done between the two presidents since our president was also there,” Embassy of Zambia in Zimbabwe First Secretary Ms Zelipa Chitambo said.

She said discussions were also centred on how to improve trade between the two countries, something which was later buttressed by President Lungu in his speech during the official opening.

Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe Counsellor Mr Yoshitake Tsuzuki said he told the two heads of state at the Japanese stand of the Asian country on the need for Zimbabwe and Zambia to take advantage of the opportunities that they could take advantage of to get into the Asian market.

President Mugabe last month visited Japan where he explored a number of opportunities meant to attract investment from the country.

“There are a lot of opportunities in Japan and I briefed the presidents on some of them. We enjoy good relations with both Zimbabwe and Zambia,” said Mr Tsuzuki.

The two Presidents visited many other stands and it will remain a big honour for those exhibitors who had the opportunity to interact with the great men.

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